Former Ghana International Laryea Kingston believes he was dropped from the Black Stars 2006 World Cup squad because then head coach Ratomir Dujkovic didn’t believe Ghana would progress beyond the Group Stages of the tournament.
Kingston was going to miss Ghana's first two games at the tournament because of a red card he received against Senegal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Despite the red card, expectations were that Laryea who was one of Ghana’s star player then was going to make the 23-man squad.
But the squad arrived with the former Hearts player being absent.
“Everyone knew I was going to miss the first two games if the suspension still stands, but I didn’t know I’ll be excluded from the World cup squad", he told Citi Sports.
“Around that time, I was one of the core players in the team, so I wasn’t expecting to be excluded. I remember talking to the coach, Doya and he told me they didn’t have confidence in us making it to the next round because it was our first time at the World cup and since I had to miss the first 2 games, there was no point in me being part of the squad.
“For me, I think I worked tirelessly, I did my part, I was there to defend my country and I’m proud that I was part of the squad that qualified the country to her first World Cup,” he concluded.
The Black Stars, however, made it to the second round stage after picking six points in victories against Czech Republic and the USA.
Ghana exit the competition after losing to a star-studded Brazil in the Round of 16 stage.